Biological Surveys in Central New Mexico
Tierra has provided natural resources consulting services in connection with two major fiber-optic-backbone upgrade projects in central New Mexico. These surveys covered nearly a 1,000 miles for a new telecommunications cable corridor within a 20-foot-wide easement. Tierra’s Natural Resources staff worked in conjunction with our client, the Right of Way and Cultural Resources Divisions, and multiple agencies to complete a major Environmental Assessment in accordance with NEPA. Tierra developed an expedited procedure in coordination with the U.S. Forest Service, three Bureau of Land Management field offices, the New Mexico Department of Transportation, and Rural Development Utilities Program to perform the field surveys and prepare documentation that met or exceeded agency requirements and allowed the client to obtain a fast approval to what can otherwise be a time-consuming process. The work involved in this project has included field surveys, assessments, and clearances and will involve natural resources monitoring during the construction phase of the project.